Clinic merger at eye level: good care in Frankenberg and Korbach

The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg and the town of Korbach are working on a joint strategy for the hospitals in Frankenberg and Korbach. The aim of the possible merger is to organise both locations in such a way that they can continue to offer the best possible healthcare in the future. With rising costs, decreasing investment funding, an acute shortage of skilled labour and in view of the nationwide hospital reform, the hospitals will no longer be able to do this alone in future. In order to prevent a reduction in medical services in Waldeck-Frankenberg, structured co-operation between the hospitals is essential.

Better future prospects together than alone
"We want to create the best structural conditions in Waldeck-Frankenberg in order to continue to be awarded care contracts by the state of Hesse for the broadest possible range of treatments," says District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. "The co-operation between the two clinics as one hospital at two locations can significantly increase the opportunities for special service groups. After all, the more groups, the more diverse the quality of care. As a joint centre, we have much better conditions here than we would on our own." Both hospitals already offer a comprehensive range of basic, standard and emergency medical care.

Heart patients continue to receive care in Frankenberg
The district hospital in Frankenberg benefits from a good quality of care - even after the change of head physician in internal medicine. "The treatment of patients with heart disease is still possible with the expertise of our new head physician and the experienced hospital team," says Margarete Janson, Managing Director of the district hospital The Department of Internal Medicine was headed for many years by a head physician and most recently a female head physician - both internists specialising in cardiology. According to the hospital plan of the state of Hesse, there has never been a specialised cardiology department at the district hospital. "Even after the change in April, the internal medicine department is still staffed by an internist who also specialises in nephrology and palliative medicine and has been head physician for over 10 years." There will be no changes to the range of care on offer.

Patients receive expert care and treatment
"Patients with cardiological diseases such as cardiac insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmia, high blood pressure or coronary heart disease receive the same level of expert care and treatment as before," says Head Physician Dr Matthias Klingele, who has headed the Department of Internal Medicine at the district hospital since 1 April. "The basic care of such illnesses is part of every internist's professional training. Patients can rest assured. We can also continue to provide optimum care for emergencies. In more complicated cases, we work closely with specialist clinics such as the University Hospital in Marburg." The merger with Korbach City Hospital could also further strengthen the cardiological care structures for the southern district.

This demand-orientated care in as many specialist disciplines as possible will continue to have top priority in the hospital merger under the umbrella of the Waldeck-Frankenberg district. Both hospitals are to be made fit for the future - also and above all under the effects of the nationwide hospital reform. The state of Hesse, which is responsible for hospital sector planning, is also focussing on cooperation models such as the one being considered for Korbach and Frankenberg. "When merging, it is important to us that the two hospitals merge on an equal footing and with the involvement of staff representatives. No hospital should be favoured or disadvantaged. We are concerned with the matter at hand: the best possible medical care for people in the entire district," emphasises District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst once again.